Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint

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Refinishing an Antique Dresser

Nancy Lusby | Fresh Coat Finishes

Refinishing an Antique Dresser with Curio and Carolina Dune MilkPaint™

Let me introduce myself! I’m Nancy Lusby with Fresh Coat Finishes. In this blog, I’ll share with you my process for refinishing this antique dresser and mirror.

I’ll be using two colors of MMS MilkPaint™. The drawers and the top will be painted with Carolina Dune, one of the newest colors from MMSMP. It’s a warm, sandy brown. It’s my first time using this color!

The rest will be painted with Curio, a rich, dark brown, and October’s Color Of The Month. It’s a favorite of mine!

I’ve been using Miss Mustard Seed’s® MilkPaint for many years, and I’ve used Curio many times in different ways. When mixed with water in a  1-to-1 ratio, which is what I’m doing for this project, it’s a beautiful color that complements many color schemes. 

I’ve also used it as a base coat underneath another color when I want it distressed or chippy. In that case, I might add some MilkGrip™ to the Curio to make sure it adheres well.

Curio also makes a fabulous stain when mixed with extra water and used on bare wood. Check the MMS blog to find instructions on how to do that.

Supplies

Here are the supplies I’ll use to complete this antique dresser makeover:

Preparation

The hardware needs to be replaced, as there is a knob missing. I’ll patch the holes in case the new hardware is a different size.

The finials were broken off long ago and need to be replaced.

The veneer is badly damaged, so I’ll sand it off using graduated sandpaper grits. The rest only needs a light, scuff sanding.

But first, I’ll start with a thorough cleaning. Cleaning is very important! A good cleaning will ensure your paint adheres well. It also makes sanding more efficient, and you’ll use less sandpaper. Sometimes, depending on the existing finish and the look you want, you may not even need to sand, just give it a thorough cleaning. Don’t forget to clean underneath and inside where the crawlies like to hide!

Check the Miss Mustard Seed’s® blog for more information on prepping your projects.

More of a visual learner? Watch the video to see Nancy’s refinishing steps!

Mixing the Paint

I’m mixing both paint colors using a 1:1 ratio of water and powder. Depending on your mixing method (stirring, milk frother, shaking), you may want to add a few drops of MMS MilkMix-EZ™, but it’s not necessary. MilkMix-EZ™ helps the powder and water incorporate faster and reduces foaming. Sometimes I use it, sometimes I don’t. It’s always a good idea to let the paint sit for at least 10 minutes to allow it to settle and to make sure the water is absorbed into all the pigments. Look for a complete tutorial on mixing milk paint in the MMS blog.

Or watch this quick video on mixing Curio!

Painting

Milk paint usually requires two coats or more. The first coat (often called the ugly coat), can look patchy or streaky. Don’t be alarmed! This is perfectly normal. The second coat will look so much better.

If I’m wanting a very smooth finish, I may give it a light sanding with very fine sandpaper after each coat, but the new formulation of Miss Mustard Seed’s® MilkPaint™ has pretty much eliminated the need for that. It’s much smoother and silkier than the previous formula.

Top Coats

Milk paint needs to be sealed with a top coat to protect the finish. While other paints may contain sealer in their formula, I like the fact that I get to choose what type of finish I use on each project. Top coat choices include MilkWax™ furniture wax in various colors, MilkWax-ECO™, MilkOil™Indoor/ Hemp Seed Oil, and MilkCoat™ water-based poly. Look for a blog on the MMS website to help you decide which to use for your projects.

I’m using MilkOil™ over the Curio painted portions of this project. I love the way MilkOil deepens the color, especially dark colors like Curio and Typewriter. I’ll use MilkWax™ in Clear for the Carolina Dune painted portions. I may even add some MilkWax™ in Antiquing to the edges to give it a little more depth and interest. A little buffing all over, and my project is almost done!

Final Steps

After the new hardware goes on and the mirror is reattached, this project is done! Hmmmm, what will my next project be? Follow Fresh Coat Finishes on the platforms of your choice to see where I go from here!

Follow Fresh Coat Finishes on Instagram to see the final look of this piece!

I’m happy to get feedback or questions about this project or anything else related to furniture refinishing. If I don’t know the answer, I’ll consult the experts at Miss Mustard Seed’s® Milk Paint. I can be reached through my website, FreshCoatFinishes.com. Thanks for checking this out and happy painting!